The Concept of Botho and HIV/AIDS in Botswana

Ever since the publication of Placide Tempel's epoch-making work Bantu Philosophy, African philosophers have worked to dispel the myth that there is no metaphysics in Africa. In the East African context we remember the names of Joseph Nyasmi and Odera Oruka, and in the West African context, Pauline Hotoundji and Kwesi Wiredu have made monumental contributions to elucidate African metaphysics. This compendium, presented by a group of scholars from the University of Botswana, seeks to build bridges between the seemingly estranged disciplines of African metaphysics, existential philosophy, and economics in the contexts of HIV/AIDS.

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, Frontispiece

Acknowledgements

Contents

Introduction

The context of HIV&AIDS is that there has been a debate, or
rather an assumption or assumptions as to where the disease
belongs. Is it just a medical problem that needs medical
solutions, or is there much more to it than that? Those of us who
reflect on these matters soon realise that no disease is just a medical
problem. ...

Chapter One - Botho and HIV/AIDS: A Theological Reflection

Botho is an answer to the question: “What is
authentic humanity?” Botho, at face value, is a Sotho-Tswana equivalent of the English word “person”, so Botho
can in the same way be translated to mean personhood. The Sotho-Tswana language groups, found mainly in Botswana, South Africa,
and Lesotho, ...

Chapter Two - The Setswana Concept of Botho Unpacking the Metaphysical and Moral Aspects

The word Botho is a noun of classes 1.2 (one two) and 14
(fourteen) in the Setswana language (Mogapi, 1984:12). It
comes from the root –tho (Mogapi, 1984:20). The word
means “a human being” as a metaphysical entity, and “a person” at
a moral level. These concepts will be examined below for us to
understand the moral significance of this term in this book. ...

Chapter Three - The Maid, Botho, and HIV/AIDS Infections: The Economic and Ethical Perspectives

The continuing HIV&AIDS infection amongst Batswana is still
a cause for concern. The search for reasons on the continuing
new infections will therefore carry on. Perhaps one of the
reasons could be the lack of Botho in our people. Botho is sometimes
referred to as humanity; it is a phenomenon, a theory, or a framework
that advocates for compassion and care amongst the human race. ...

Chapter Four - The Significance of Cultural and Religious Understanding in the Fight against HIV/AIDS in Botswana

Ever since the first cases of HIV&AIDS were reported in
Botswana in the 1980’s, there have been certain notions
that people maintained in their interpretation of the
HIV&AIDS problem. Most of these ideas were culturally and
religiously-based. Examples of such notions include the following: ...

Chapter Five - Methods used to Combat HIV/AIDS in Botswana: Implications for Botho

The introductory chapters have fully explored the concept of Botho.
It is in the context of the foregoing that in this chapter we analyze
the implications of the methods used to combat HIV&AIDS for
Botho. Our aim in this chapter is to explore and establish how some of
these methods may be understood to be contradicting Botho. ...

Chapter Six - The Role of Religious Education in promoting Botho: Implications for the fight against HIV/AIDS

The Botswana education system aims at developing Botho.
An analysis of government documents on education
reveals that one of the principle aims of education in Botswana
is the development of people with acceptable moral behaviour. ...

Chapter Seven - Should Prospective Students Be Tested for HIV/AIDS Prior to Overseas Scholarship Grants? A Moral Perspective

There are many Batswana students studying abroad in countries
such as Australia, Britain, Malaysia, India, China, Singapore,
Belgium, Holland, Germany, France, Republic of Ireland,
Canada, New Zealand, United States of America, and others. The
students are pursuing both undergraduate and graduate degrees in
various specialties. ...

Conclusion

This book is not just about Botho as a concept. It is much
more. It is an attempt at self definition of Batswana.
It raises the question: who or what is Batswana? What
identifies the pople of Botswana? Mmualefhe provides an answer,
or at least part of an answer. ...

Contributing Authors

Mr. Innocent S. Botshelo is a lecturer at the University of Botswana
and holds a post Graduate Diploma in Financial and Business
Economics from University of Essex and a Masters degree in
Economics and Finance from University of Sheffield. ...

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